Singulation apparatus and method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to apparatus for carrying articles such as fruit for sorting, and in particular though not exclusively to apparatus for singulating the articles. There is provided a singulation apparatus for an article carrying system, the apparatus comprising a flume adapted to receive a plurality of articles at a first end; a fluid inlet associated with the first end and arranged in use to direct a fluid flow to carry the received articles along the flume to a second end; wherein a parameter of the fluid flow is controlled in order to singulate the received articles along the flume. A method for singulation is also disclosed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A singulation apparatus for an article carrying system, the apparatus comprising:
 a dry in-feed comprising at least one in-feed belt, said at least one in-feed belt being adapted to convey a plurality of articles; 
 a flume having a first end and a second end, wherein the flume comprises a receiving portion that is located so as to receive the plurality of articles from an outlet of the in-feed at or proximate to the first end of the flume, and wherein the receiving portion of the flume is positioned lower than the outlet of the dry in-feed; 
 a liquid inlet in liquid connection with the first end of the flume and adapted to provide and direct a liquid flow from the first end of the flume to the second end of the flume, carry the received articles along therewith; and 
 a control device adapted to control a parameter of the liquid flow in order to singulate the received articles along the flume 
 further comprising a pliable landing surface at the first end for receiving the articles prior to carriage along the flume. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the liquid flow is one or more of the following: liquid volume flow rate; liquid speed; liquid level, and the liquid is water. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the landing surface comprises a surface of a pliable material arranged in use to be inflated by the liquid flow. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the landing surface comprises a pliable material arranged between an orifice and a lower landing pad, the pliable material located adjacent the liquid inlet such that in use the pliable material is inflated by the liquid flow which is then directed into the flume via the orifice. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pliable surface is angled upwards from a longitudinal axis of the flume. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the flume is angled downwardly from the first end at between 2 to 3 degrees. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the flume having side walls and an included angle between the side walls is greater than 80 degrees. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a load belt for receiving articles from the second end of the flume, and wherein, in use, the liquid speed is substantially equal to the speed of the load belt. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a load belt for receiving articles from the second end of the flume, and wherein, in use, the liquid speed is faster than the speed of the load belt.